Do we have enough Admirals?

In defence the old days never disappear, which is to say it is necessary to exaggerate the threat to boost defence spending. The nuclear ‘missile gap’ was a great bonus for the western nuclear weapons industrial complex in the 1950s and 60s. Later it was discovered that there was a gap—and it was entirely to the Russians’ disadvantage. Some military planners will have known that all along, but in their revolving door existence with the industry any number of generals, with any number of medals will have participated in the great game. Today I heard the latest palpable nonsense generated by this mindset. It came from Lord West, a former Sea Lord and Labour minister who told listeners to the BBC’s PM programme that ’People may want to care a bit less about welfare spending, there won’t be any welfare when they see Russian and Chechen troops marching down their street.’ (Words spoken as I best remember them) This remark is so obviously bananas it beggars belief when the Russian attempt to subjugate Ukraine has on most western experts’ analysis failed and is costing Russia dear. Whoever Lord West’s interviewer was didn’t seem interested in exactly what scenario we would find ourselves confronting Russian and Chechen troops on our doorsteps. Even with our current reduced defence capacity (which I’m prepared to accept as a fact) there is no possibility of a Russian invasion of the UK. It’s preposterous. Maybe Lord West didn’t speak for the defence establishment. Or maybe he did.

As a postscript it is worth mentioning that if Andy (Burnham that is) is our PM in a couple of weeks, the right wing press will tell us the Red Menace will already have arrived so there’s no need for an invasion. Or will there? Let's wait and see how they work this one out (for one thing the Ruskies are no longer 'Red' if that makes any difference).